Netherlands progressed to the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a 3-1 win over the United States of America on Saturday evening.
No additions for the Dutch off their 2-0 win over the host Qatar were provided, but the USA restored Walker Zimmerman and Jesus Ferreira to the fold from their win against Iran.
A huge opening early on came for the USA where a ball from the edge of the box beat the high-line before Christian Pulisic charged and produced a stop from Andries Noppert with no offside called.
The Netherlands were more accurate and broke the deadlock on ten minutes after Memphis Depay dropped in the area and directed a cutback from Denzel Dumfries beyond goalkeeper Matt Turner.
After a quiet spell, the Dutch grabbed a second when another ball from the right by Dumfries allowed Daley Blind to connect and apply a first-time finish.
Changes from both camps at the break saw Giovanni Reyna in for Ferreira before Teun Koopmeiners replaced Davy Klaassen and Steven Bergwijn filled in for Marten De Roon on the side of the Dutch.
Netherlands found comfort minutes after the break and a telling shot from a smart area by Depay brought an outstretched palm from Turner and denied the 2010 World Cup finalists a third.
The USA remained confident and cut the advantage near the last 14 minutes when substitute Haji Wright flicked a cutback from Pulisic over the advancing Noppert from a short-corner.
However, the Dutch restored their two-goal cushion six minutes later after Dumfries attacked a ball from Blind and side-footed past Turner.
A late surge from the USA followed from moves in and around the area by Wright and Pulisic, as the Dutch emerged victors and secured a quarter-final ticket.
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